Olympic Hero: Eric Moussambani

[chess9]

DarkSage:

Learning to swim at 11 is a relatively easy task. Learning at 21 or 22 is quite a different matter. Almost any physical skill is best learned well before the onset of puberty.

But the fact that he is a dreadful swimmer emphasizes the quality of his accomplishment, rather than diminishing it as you suggest.

I don't wish to diminish your swimming accomplishments, but believe me, we have a kid with cerebral palsy who made my daughter's swim team. The only kids who don't make the team are the ones who are "en ventra sa mere".
I'm glad you are a swimmer, but please rethink your views.

I'm also glad to hear you think you can break two minutes for 100 meters. I'm 57 and can do it off the blocks in about 1:18. I don't even bother to go to masters meets anymore because the 70 year olds can beat me! Anyway, the guy wasn't DQ'd on the start, or on the turn, which I was afraid was going to happen by him touching the bottom or stopping, and he finished under 2 minutes with probably about 6 months of actual training.

I think I've said enough on this. I did not intend to get into my athletic background and to tout any of my very meager accomplishments. This is not about me. It is simply about having the courage to face a serious challenge and complete it.

I salute Eric who is a fine example of amateur athletics for all of us.

 

[KingHam]

Thunderbooty,



<< You can argue (aka whine) all you want, the bottom line is, we are responding in a positive way to a country trying to better itself, while you choose to ridicule them. Its such an impressive trait to have. Your my hero Kingham. >>



If you would like to state more falsehoods I will gladly correct but, this is the last personal insult that I will provide a response.

chees9,



<< I know what it takes to swim the length of the pool and be a world class swimmer. >>



Congratualtions but, that is irrelevant to our our discussion. I was an All American in high school and 2 people from my High school team are now on the Olympic team. A couple of good friends just missed making the team and hopefully will be there competing in Athens. I too know what it takes to swim 100 meters and it sure as heck ain't much.

Most importantly you don't have to be a swimmer to realize that circumventing the rules is wrong and is bad for any competition let alone the Olympic games.



<< Frankly, putting the guy down makes you look like fools. >>



I'm not putting him down, my problem is with everyone who thinks that he is a hero. Of course, if others view me as a fool that's the price I pay for expressing my opinion in public.



<< In addition, I notice that some of the most flagrant jerks don't post their email addys, which says volumes about your integrity. >>



Mine's posted should someone not have the courage to express their opinion in public.



<< At any rate, I'll be happy to watch any of you complainers swim two lengths of a 50 meter pool. I'll bring my hourglass and a big hook to pull you out. >>



I'm not actively training but, I'm quite sure I would still be under 55 seconds.

KingHam

 

[Thunderbooty]

You still dont get it do ya? Its not about you being better than him. Its the fact that he EXTREMLEY SUCKED, and still did it. I could surely swim it faster than him, but theres no way I would get up there and embarress myslf in front of the world.

But your right, I guess all the people in the stands and the rest of the world are wrong about him being a hero to us.

 

[Thunderbooty]

BTW, Heres what a real swimmer had to say about it...

Ian Thorpe on Eric:
&quot;I saw it on TV and was quite amazed. ... That's what the Olympics are all about: athletes from around the world getting a chance to swim in the biggest event there is.&quot;

 

[chess9]

KingHambone:

Give me your full name, years you swam, and U.S.S. team, and I'll verify in about 10 minutes whether you ever entered a single certified meet. I know quite a few of the coaches in California and may even know yours.

Regardless, as I said above, the fact he is a poor swimmer really only serves to emphasize the quality of his achievement.

 

[KingHam]

<< I have a problem wiuth you and that Asshole Cyberwanks thinking you can scold us for believing that his accomplishment was admirable. >>



Bravo Red Dawn. Thak you for expressing an opinion even if it is discredited with your usual mumbo jumbo. All I want to know what his accomplishment is? Being chosen from a group of applicants that didn't know how to swim and doggie paddling down and back in the pool? Doesn't seem like much to me.

I never scolded anyone for their beliefs I just asked why he was a hero. I will admit to scolding you for your usual childish antics.

KingHam

 

[goog40]

The reason that this was done is because:

1) It gets a lot of positive publicity
2) It's fast and easy
3) It requires virtually no monetary investment

That's the fscking point. Some little kid sees this guy from nowhere swimmming at the Olympics and comes out of it with a new outlook on life.

 

[KingHam]

I never swam in U.S.S. meets. I did briefly swim for the Irvine Novaquatics but, I mostly was involved with my High School team. I may have spoken too hastily because my All American time was on a relay but, that's really the point anyway. I'm was never that committed to swimming. It was more of off season training for water polo but, I always had fun because our team (Irvine High School) was/and is nationally ranked. I sometimes regret not pursuing swimming more actively.

KingHam

 

[chess9]

KingHam:

I know the coach for Irvine NovAquatics. He's one of the best coaches in the United States. I'm sure Dr. Dave &quot;Sprint&quot; Salo will be more than happy to tell me all about your accomplishments. Just email me your name and the years you swam. If he verifies any of it, I'll tell everyone else here. Your credibility will skyrocket. If not, I'll tell them. I won't tell anyone else your name. Put up or shut up.

 

[DarK SagE]

chess9: The guy has no accomplishments other than the fact that he had the balls to jumo into the damn pool. Any guy that has the same physical stature as him (meaning strong body &amp; 6ft tall) can do what he did.


Anyway, as much as i dont want to argue about my swimming acomplishments (which i know are measerly) I must say that if you have a kid on your daugter's swim team that has cerebral palsy... well maybe you should look for a new team? Of course i dont know to what extent he has it, and he may very well be able to swim at a decent speed compared to his teamates. Oh and about me braking 2 on a 100, lets just say that my right hand, at the moment has almost no range of motion, in terms of bending my elbow (the reason i quit the team). I'm sure that if i wasent &quot;broken&quot; i would be able to swim plenty faster.

Anyway, I too dont want to discus my athletics anylonger. I understand that neither of us achieved anything, major but somehow when i read the posts you directed towards me, they seemed almost taunting, so i felt like respomding.

 

[DonaldDuck82]

i am with king ham, i am was an all-american swimmer my sophmore year in high school, i had to slow it down a lot because of rotator cuff problems, however i will say that i could still swim at least under a 55 hundred with my injury(i haven't swum in a year). i also teach swim lessons to adults, and i have had adults come in and in six months they were swimming competively in masters, to call someone a hero because they are awful is ridicilious, since when should we reward lack of effort, then praise someone for finishing in the event? where is pride in that?

 

[DABANSHEE]

First I don't think any one at the Olympics are heros. They are just obsessive workaholic people with big egos or just so happen to be good at some sport, useally a bit of both or a lot of both. Who want to represent their country for the sake of that ego.

As far as I'm concerned a hero is someone who puts their life on the line for their country or for freedom or puts their life on the line to save someone elses life.

However as far as Chess's term &quot;Olympic Hero&quot;, IMAO, Eric is what its all about. He put his pride on the line, how many Olympians do that?

BTW, I'd be half dead after the first lap Chess, because basically I'm fat &amp; lazy. When I go to the beach I body surf &amp; let the waves propell me along. I remember I got cought in a rip once, &amp; I knew there was no way fat ole lazy me could fight it. So I just paddled sideways perpendicular out of it. By the time I got out of the rip I was so far out from the beach I had to swim over to the the rocks on one of the headlands, that stick out into the ocean between the beachs in Sydney. It took me bloody ages to walk back to the beach. &amp; there were all these blokes fishing from the rocks &amp; one of them told me that I was about the 6th swimmer/body surfer to get caught in that rip &amp; ended up swim sideways out &amp; ended up climbing out over the rocks in front of him. So it looks like there's more than one Aussie who can't be bothered fighting against a rip.

 

[KingHam]

<< Now if you wouldn't mind, stop being a stick in the mud as you and the other 2 have already cast an ugly shadow what was supposed to be a thread were people wanted to revel in anothers accomplishment, whether you feel it is deserved or not. >>



I must admit that you are right. I did some thinking and I want to apologize for crapping on your thread chees9. I re-read some of my posts I did come off quite snobbish. I'm sorry for that and it wasn't my intention. I've been stewing over this crap that NBC has been presenting as the Olympics for a few days now and I went overboard.

KingHam

 

[403Forbidden]

Cybersax is just racist against black people, that's all.

 

[JoeKing]

The Little Engine That Could

thats all I want to say

 

[chess9]

403Forbidden: Let's hope he isn't that low, but I think it's possible.

DonaldMacQuackers: I've watched kids struggle with swimming, look like they wouldn't go anywhere, and then blossom like a rose in Spring. Ditto for adults, particularly some runners who become triathletes. Adults usually take much much longer to become proficient. You have no idea how hard he worked or how far he may go. But, you too missed the point. Because his skill level is low, for whatever reason, his accomplisment is greater. He embodies the Olympic spirit by trying-which is what it is all about. Some people are so wrapped up in excellence and winning, they fail to see the Zen aspect of sport!

 

[DonaldDuck82]

im not trying to be a jerk about this guy or anything, all i am saying is yall are forgeting all the people who have worked their whole lives to get there and here we are calling the one gut who has been working for six months a hero, i just dont understand

 

[chess9]

DonaldDuck82:

That's irrelevant. Again, you've completely missed the point! I've already spoken with two guys who went to the American Trials in August (6 kids from my daughter's team went to trials) and both of them mentioned the incident with enormous excitement and fondness. Most people remember their roots, how they got started, and I think one of the exciting things about Eric is how his naivete and innocence triumphed, and reminded us of our beginnings. We can all remember how we started in whatever sport is &quot;yours&quot; and indentify with Eric. That's all. I can understand people not wanting to call him a hero, but to not identify with his struggle is to miss something elemental in human nature.

Dabanshee: You are a disgrace to the Ozzie Nation! Have another Fosters, Mate!

 

[DonaldDuck82]

i am more than willing to identify with him as someone stuggling to compete, however i do not see this as a heroic action, im not trying to be mean it is just that no one has successfully explained to me why he should be a hero

 

[SUOrangeman]

I think one of the problems here is that folks are holding Eric to *American* standards. I'm sure there are plenty of people that can lap him on anyday of the week in their sleep. Heck, I have swam in years and could probably do it.

But, we Americans certainly have a far better infrastructure for supporting such development than Equatorial Guinea. He was one of FOUR from his country chosen to represent his nation.

I agree that the Olympics were created to show who's best in the world at these various athletic endeavors. Yes, the best get medals. Surely no one can just walk in and say, &quot;Hey, I'm the best in the world and I want medal.&quot; First, you go through your country (as Eric was chosen to do), then there are preliminary events (heats, in some sports like swimming). We just caught Eric's heat. As far as we know, Eric could very well be the best in his country. And instead of quitting, he gave his best effort.

BTW, if you can do better, why don't YOU got to E. Guinea and sign up for the team. Just don't expect much from them, as they probably don't have it to give.

As for an act of heroism, who is to say that someone on suicide watch didn't catch Eric's heat? Just watching it alone could have convinced that person that their situation is not that much different from Eric's. They could have figured that hey, if he can do it, why can't I? Sounds like that could be a saved life to me. Would that then ake him a hero?

-SUO

 

[Chef0083]

What happend here?? This Thread was so great in the begining. I step away from it for a day and people crap all over it. If you can't see what he did as heroic, fine, don't post about it. Obviously there are lots of people here who think this was a big highlight in what has been a pretty dismal olympics. Personally I couldn't believe my eyes,, the first thought was, what is this guy doing in the pool? Then all of the sudden I realized how tough it was for him and how big a risk(personal) he was taking. On the biggest stage in the world he showed that he was proud to be there and he wouldn't quit until he finished. Sure, he didn't save lives in a war, he just acted unselfishly(didn't quit) and many people consider that heroic because of the circumsatnce surrounding it.

D

 

[chess9]

SUO and Chef:

Both of your posts are excellent. I couldn't have said it as well. Thanks.

 

[TomC25]

I bet Eric did not get in trouble with his nation because of his swim time

I was thinking about how some nations treat their Olympic athletes if they do not medal, or how they can be treated if they don't get the gold - silver is not recognized

That is tragic

These people do their best and get silver - go home and people don't praise them just because they did not get the gold

I bet Eric is a hero in his nation

 

[chess9]

Red:

That would make him an Asian, not a black. But, yes, racist is a pretty strong statement. I seem to recall referring to some comments of WW as &quot;racist&quot; (untrue of course) and was roundly pulverized by her horde of admirers.

 

[403Forbidden]

<< I don't think he's prejudiced against Black People because he's black himself coming from India. He might be prejudiced against People with an African heritage though. >>



i know, i was just kiddin'